Donald W. Bast, 73, civil engineer, veteran

THE BALTIMORE SUN

Donald Willis Bast, a civil engineer and Korean War veteran, died Thursday at his sister's home in Catonsville of complications of colon cancer. He was 73.

Born in Baltimore, Mr. Bast grew up in the Beechfield area. He graduated from Polytechnic Institute in 1947 and received a degree in civil engineering from the Johns Hopkins University in 1952, family members said.

After graduation he was commissioned in the Army and served as an engineering unit commander in the Korean War. Six weeks before the end of the war, Mr. Bast was taken prisoner by Chinese forces.

Mr. Bast was released in August 1953. He was awarded the Silver Star, a Purple Heart and several other commendations.

Mr. Bast returned to Baltimore and took an engineering job with Arundel Corp., which dispatched him to West Virginia, New York, Alabama, and elsewhere to build dams.

A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at MacNabb Funeral Home, 301 Frederick Road, Catonsville.

In addition to his wife and sister, he is survived by a son, Edward Bast of Aliso Viejo, Calif.; three daughters, Barbara Lee of Baltimore, Linda Mowry of Richmond, Va., and Mary Holewinski of Atlanta; a sister, Audrey Kolessar of Catonsville; and nine grandchildren.